Insider Info on Planning a Great Trip to Glacier National Park + Missoula
If you love to visit beautiful places, listen up! This week Janice Moskoff joins us to talk about everything you need to know about planning an amazing trip to Glacier and other parts of Montana.
iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Audible
Where is Glacier and how do I get there?
Glacier National Park is located in Northwestern Montana.
It is a HUGE park! It takes about 2-3 hours to drive through the whole park.
How to get there:
Drive. This is nice because then you have your car.
Fly. The closest airport to fly into is Glacier International Airport. You can also fly to Missoula, MT (2.5 hour drive) or Spokane, WA (4 hour drive). Additionally, if you have passports, you can fly to Calgary, Canada (3 hour drive).
Amtrak overnight train. If you happen to live along the Amtrak route, you can take a train that stops right by Glacier.
How far in advance do I need to plan?
For the best chances of booking lodging or campgrounds, plan your trip about 13 months in advance.
What should I see and do in the park?
Hiking
There are over 700 miles of hiking trails throughout the park.
All Trails is a great resource to choose which hikes you want to do.
If you want help choosing a hike, talk to a park ranger for current conditions and hike suggestions.
Boat ride and hiking!
You can book tickets that include a boat ride on the river to hiking trailheads!
Scenic Drives
One of the most iconic drives in the United States is in the Park. It is called the “Going to the Sun” road. This road is 50 miles of curvy roads through the park with stunning views.
Logan Pass has incredible views. Be aware that parking can be difficult in the summer.
Water activities
You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and boats.
Fishing is also an option.
You can reserve these activities ahead of time online! But there are also walk-up options (they’re just so limited).
Guided options
Stop at a visitor's center to find out what events are going on!
You can also look online and book guided hikes or backpacking trips.
They also offer horseback riding and white water rafting tours.
What do I need to think about and plan ahead of time?
The most important thing is to book your lodging first thing!
The season is very short to visit Glacier.
Because of this, there is a lot of competition to get lodging. Lodging opens 13 months before the time of the stay. Booking WILL FILL UP the day it opens.
Visit Glacier National Park Lodges to book most options inside the park.
Glacier Park Collection also has many park-adjacent options, as well as a couple in-park.
Even if you’re not sure about your trip, they are very good about letting you cancel.
You could even book multiple dates and cancel the days that don’t work out.
Glacier has been changing the permit rules to enter the park, so please check out the official Glacier website ahead of time to see the current status!
There is restricted admittance to the park! Make sure that you get whatever pass they are issuing at the time.
They are currently using a car registration system. You need to be on the government recreation website 120 days in advance to get your one-day pass. Be RIGHT on time! If you miss that window, you can try again the night before. Check the website for specific details.
If you don’t get a pass, you can enter the park before 6am OR after 3pm.
OR if you have a pre-booked activity in the park, that will gain you access to the park.
You also need reservations/permits to be able to camp in the backcountry.
Are there food options in the Park?
There are not a lot of food options in the park. Just to be safe, pack lots of food and snacks to have enough to eat.
There is a small grocery store in West Glacier where you can get picnic foods before you go in the park.
There are a few inns and cafes scattered throughout the park that have food. But don’t rely on this.
Other things to be aware of:
Amenities are VERY limited.
Fill your car up with gas before going into the park.
Bring all the food and water you need.
There is almost no cell service anywhere in the park.
Download maps ahead of time and bring phone charging packs.
For more info on planning a trip to Glacier National Park, check out Janice’s blog!
Visiting Missoula (near Glacier)
If you want to fly in or out of Missoula, here are some ideas to do there!
Stop in Bigfork on the way from Glacier to Missoula. It’s a cute town!
Lots of nearby day hikes.
Walk around the town!
On Wednesdays in the summer, the city has a huge food truck lunch with live music.
Rent bikes and ride on the trails around town.
The #1 thing to do is float down the Clark Fork River!
Day trip to Bitterroot Mountains.
Connect with Janice: